World Cup Boot Watch: the Most Unusual Boot Choices on Show in Qatar
The majority of the boots worn during the first week of the tournament have come from the World Cup packs of Nike; Adidas and - to a lesser extent - Puma. Nonetheless, some players caught our eye with their custom colourways, older models and boots from lesser spotted brands.
World Cup Boot Watch
We've seen plenty of players in Nike's copper coloured silos and Adidas' vibrant Al Rihla pack, as the two big boys dominate in the footwear department. Puma are quite well represented too, but it's always more interesting to see some more left-field choices on the big stage. Check out some of the most intriguing boots we've spotted during the first week of the World Cup.
DeAndre Yedlin - Tru Tencaci
By our estimations, the former Newcastle and Spurs defender has given Tru their first ever World Cup appearance, a few weeks after we spotted them in the Premier League for the first time on the feet of Kurt Zouma.
Joel Campbell - Pirma Supreme X
One time Arsenal man Campbell now plys his trade in Mexico, and has started wearing boots from local brand Pirma since he moved there. He's worn two different colourways so far of their Supreme X boot.
Darwin Nunez and Mathías Olivera - Custom Colourway Nike Mercurials
The two Uruguay players opted for a slightly older model of the Mercurial in custom colourways in their opener against Korea. Nunez went for a sky blue and white paintjob to match his kit, while Oliveira's lime green pair of Superflys are a little bit louder.
Bryan Ruiz - Copa Mundial
As one of the elder statesmen at this World Cup, Ruiz has gone for boot to match this status, the classic Copa Mundial. He's blacked his out, but we could see the boot disappear completely in the not too distant future.
Japan Players - Mizuno Azure Blue Pack
Most of Mizuno's representation at this tournament comes from the squad of their home nation, with 5 of Japan's players wearing their boots. Most of them are sporting the different models of the Azure Blue pack, while Ao Tanaka and Maya Yoshida have stuck with their white Morelia IIs and Alphas respectively.
Miki Yamane - Asics DS Light
Another Japanese player with footwear from his homeland, Yamane is the only player to wear Asics boots at the tournament, standing out in his white DS Lights.
Ismaila Sarr - Nike Mercurial CR7
Of course Ronaldo himself is wearing the boots that were specially designed for him, but we weren't expecting to see Watford's Ismaila Sarr in the latest CR7 edition Mercurials as well. It's quite curious seeing players wear the signature boots some of the games biggest stars, especially when they find themselves playing at the same tournament.
Abdelhamid Sabiri
One of the protagonists of Morocco's shock win over Belgium, Sabiri thought he had scored the first free kick of the tournament, only for FIFA to award the goal to his teammate Roman Saiss. At least his custom whiteout Mercurials with red initals and number matched his kit perfectly.
Walid Cheddira - Lotto Solista
Born in Italy, Cheddira represents the country of his birth through his choice of boots, the Lotto Solista. Once a common sight on the feet of Serie A players, Lotto's presence in the game is not what it once was, so they'll be delighted to appear with Cheddira at the tournament.
Raheem Sterling - New Balance Furon v7 Raheem Sterling Stone Island
There are a few New Balance athletes across a number of squads, but Raheem Sterling has been chosen by the brand to front the Stone Island collaboration on the pitch.
Aziz Behich - Mizuno Morelia Neo
Another Mizuno sighting. Behich has opted for the red colourway of the Morelia Neo rather than the more recent blue offering.
Ramin Rezaeian - Niek Mercurial Vapor X
Iran's Rezaeian is one of many Iran players to prefer something from Nike's back catalogue, taking us back to 2015 with his bright pink Mercurial Vapor X.
Mehdi Torabi - Nike Zoom Mercurial Vapor 15 KM
Unfortunately Torabi doesn't have the global appeal to warrant his own signature boot from Nike, but he seems happy enough to make do with the most recent one they created for Kylian Mbappé.
Akram Afif - Adidas F50 Adizero Messi
One final spotting of a signature edition, as Qatar forward Akram Afif wore the Adidas F50 Adizero Messi. Sadly the boots did not bestow him with any of the magic associated with their namesake, as his side were the first team eliminated from the tournament.
Roozbeh Cheshmi - Adidas Predator 19.1
Cheshmi ignited some extremely late drama in Group B with his 98th minute strike against Wales in his blue and black Predator 19.1s. Probably the last model to retain at least some of the visual identity of the Predator range, we wouldn't mind seeing Adidas revert to something more along these lines.
Have you spotted any other standout boots that we've missed here? Let us know in the comments.
Nike Cryo Shot Mercurial Vapor 1 OG Chrome Leaked
Nike is continuing to expand its lifestyle lineup by giving another historic football boot the street-ready treatment. Via @sneakermarketro, we have images of the upcoming Nike Cryo Shot Mercurial Vapor 1 OG in the iconic Chrome colorway, scheduled to release later in 2026.
The Cryo Shot series reimagines classic pitch footwear for everyday wear by preserving the original upper design and encasing the stud structure inside a clear, molded rubber midsole.
Inspired by the famous 2002 Nike Mercurial Vapor 1 worn by Ronaldo Nazario at the 2002 World Cup, this lifestyle sneaker closely follows the original aesthetics. The shoe features a metallic silver upper decorated with signature debossed speed lines along the sidewalls, a black lateral Swoosh, and bright volt green lining around the collar and heel. L
Underfoot, the defining clear translucent sole unit showcases the original stud configuration frozen within the durable street rubber.
Carrying the style code IQ8161-001, the Nike Cryo Shot Mercurial Vapor 1 OG Chrome is expected to launch in late 2026 with a retail price tag of $200.
Hércules CF 26-27 Home Kit Released
Spanish club Hércules CF and kit supplier Kappa have officially unveiled the new home shirt for the 26-27 season.
The Hércules CF 26-27 home jersey features traditional broad blue and white vertical stripes paired with a classic white polo collar. Kappa's signature Omini logos line the white sleeve panels in blue, matched by the chest logo and a subtle embossed watermark pattern throughout the fabric. Main sponsor EKOKAI features prominently on the center chest.
The Hércules CF 26-27 home kit went on sale August 4 and is available via the club's official store and Kappa for 79 Euros.
UD Ibiza 26-27 Home Kit Released - Designed by Brain Dead
Spanish club UD Ibiza has officially launched its home kit for the 26-27 season. Replacing previous kit supplier Puma, the club has partnered with global creative collective Brain Dead to design a unique jersey that blends football culture with streetwear aesthetics.
The UD Ibiza 26-27 home jersey features the club's signature sky blue base accented with white side paneling and subtle fabric texturing. Brain Dead's iconic head profile outline replaces the traditional kit manufacturer logo on the right chest, while a classic polo collar and matching sleeve cuffs showcase a grid-patterned knit in dark blue and yellow.
Boca Juniors Launch 26-27 Home Kit
Boca Juniors and Adidas have officially launched the new 26-27 home kit, bringing a brighter shade of blue back to the Argentine giants following the darker blue scheme worn in the previous campaign. The design stays true to the club's iconic identity, anchored by the signature bold yellow horizontal stripe running across the chest.
The 26-27 jersey features a yellow V-neck collar paired with yellow Adidas three stripes across the shoulders. Main sponsor Betsson is positioned in dark blue text inside the central yellow band, while sleeve sponsor Cetrogar appears in yellow. The traditional star-filled Boca Juniors crest is embroidered on the left chest, accompanied by a yellow sign-off reading Xeneize on the upper back collar.
EAFC Kit Creator Teases Brand-New Mobile UI
EAFC Kit Creator has revealed a first look at a brand-new mobile user interface, which is currently nearing release. The popular online tool allows creators to build custom kits for EA Sports FC and FIFA, and the upcoming update is designed to make designing on mobile devices significantly easier and more intuitive.
Crucially, the landscape view is replaced by a much more efficient portrait format, which way better uses the space.
Nike Cryo Shot Zoom M9 OG 'Mia Hamm' Shoes Leaked
Nike is set to expand its street football lifestyle lineup with the upcoming release of the Nike Cryo Shot Zoom M9 OG. Following the earlier launch of the Virgil Abloh Archives collaboration, this iteration brings back the classic colorway made famous by USWNT legend Mia Hamm during her historic 1999 Women's World Cup campaign. Huge thanks to @sneakermarketro for the leak.
The sneaker faithfully recreates the iconic design of the original boot, featuring a black quilted upper contrasted by a clean white heel counter and red accents. Nike's Cryo Shot technology encapsulates the original studded sole inside a transparent rubber outsole, allowing the pitch aesthetic to be worn on everyday streets while maintaining comfort and traction.
The Nike Cryo Shot Zoom M9 OG Mia Hamm is scheduled to release in early 2027 for a retail price of $200 via Nike SNKRS and select stockists.
FC Lugano 26-27 Away Kit Released
FC Lugano and kit supplier Erreà have officially launched the club's new away kit for the 26-27 Swiss Super League season. Following the reveal of their third shirt earlier this summer, the new away uniform introduces a sharp monochrome look for the Swiss side.
The Erreà FC Lugano 26-27 away jersey features an all-white base accented with black contrast piping, collar trim, and sleeve cuffs. A key element of the design is the subtle tone-on-tone V pattern integrated into the shoulders and upper chest, paying homage to the club's traditional V motif. Black club badges, brand markings, and sponsor logos complete the clean aesthetic
AS Roma 26-27 Away Kit Spotted on Sale Early
The AS Roma 26-27 away kit has been spotted on retail store shelves ahead of its official release. Photos taken directly from store racks reveal the full design of the new shirt prior to its planned launch later this week. Big thanks to @oDoYaN244.
Made by Adidas, the jersey features an ecru off-white base complemented by a bold yellow and red horizontal band across the chest. Positioned centrally over the band is Roma's historic crest used between 1945 and 1949. A red Adidas Trefoil logo is placed above the chest stripe, matching the trim on the collar and sleeve cuffs. Additional details include red Three Stripes along the shoulders and a back collar sign-off featuring the text ROMA CHIAMÒ along with a vintage ASR monogram.
The official release is scheduled for August 8.
Diplo Spotted Wearing Unreleased Chicago Fire 2026 Third Kit
American DJ and producer Diplo has been spotted wearing the unreleased Chicago Fire 26-27 third kit during a DJ set at Sound-Bar in Chicago over Lollapalooza weekend. The unexpected appearance gives supporters a full, clear look at the upcoming Adidas jersey prior to its official launch. Bi
The Chicago Fire 26-27 third shirt features a predominantly white base centered around a broad navy blue horizontal chest stripe bordered by thin red lines. White CHICAGO lettering is positioned prominently across the front chest band. The modern Chicago Fire crest sits on the left side of the chest opposite a navy Adidas logo, while navy three stripes run along the shoulders and matching red and navy detailing trims the collar and sleeve cuffs.
The club is scheduled to officially reveal the 26-27 third kit around mid-August 2026, with the team expected to wear the new uniform on the pitch for the first time on August 16.
Accidental Teaser: Schalke 26-27 Away Kit Spotted in Background of Official Photo
FC Schalke 04 fans have spotted what appears to be an accidental teaser of the club's upcoming 26-27 away kit in an official photo featuring forward Edin Džeko. In the background of a locker room image, eagle-eyed supporters noticed the edge of an unreleased jersey hanging on the left side and reflected in the mirror. The visible section shows a white base with dark blue shoulder sections and white Adidas Three Stripes running along the top. Big thanks to @hxnnes04
This subtle leak aligns closely with information surrounding Schalke's 26-27 away strip. Produced by Adidas, the jersey is expected to embrace a classic retro theme inspired by historical kit designs from the late 1980s. Key features rumored for the white away shirt include a traditional polo or V-neck collar, the iconic Adidas Trefoil logo, and a vintage Schalke crest.
While Schalke have already presented their new home jersey and vibrant green third kit for the 26-27 campaign, the retro away shirt has not yet been officially released. Its presence in the background of official promotional media indicates that marketing shoots are complete and that a formal launch from the club should take place soon.
FC Lugano 26-27 Away Kit Released
Swiss Super League club FC Lugano and technical partner Erreà have officially launched the club's new away kit for the 26-27 season. The release completes the team's alternative wardrobe for the upcoming campaign, following the launch of their third shirt earlier in the summer.
The Erreà FC Lugano 26-27 away jersey features a clean all-white design elevated by crisp black accents. A subtle tonal V-pattern is woven into the fabric across the shoulders and sleeves, offering a refined nod to the traditional chevron associated with the club. Black piping outlines the raglan sleeve seams, complemented by a black collar section, sleeve cuff trim, and monochrome black partner logos.
Inside the collar, the jersey bears the club motto VERITÀ - CHIAREZZA - PRESTAZIONE (Truth - Clarity - Performance). The full kit is completed by matching white shorts and white socks, and is now available via the official club webshop.
AlbinoLeffe 26-27 Home Kit Released
Acerbis and AlbinoLeffe have officially unveiled the new home jersey for the 26-27 season, to be worn in the upcoming Serie C campaign.
The shirt draw inspiration from their home ground AlbinoLeffe Stadium, using a refined interplay of triangles on the traditional sky blue base. The bottom of the jersey features a stylized representation of the stadium's logo, which in 2026 celebrates its fifth anniversary.
What are your thoughts about AlbinoLeffe 26-27 home kit from Acerbis? Let us know in the comments.